USF1 -- F1's All-American Challenger

[madtown77]

If the team started without securing funds, no. But if they proceeded with money in the mail and then Bernie's ramlbings cost them money, then yes.

In either case, only someone as self serving as Bernie would cast doubt on an operation which he has aready approved to compete in his sport. Where else do you see a comishioner naysaying a team that has never even had the chance to prove itself?

If anything, its in his interest to help them (not out of his own wallet, but by way of assisting them in showing what an investment opportunity it is). Hell, this is what Bernie lives for, to make money.

I have no problem with him talking to Stefan, but it should have been done more behind the scenes so as not to cast doubt on potential operations that have already been given the green light by the FIA and FOM. All this does is to show future potential efforts that you best be careful to make sure no rumors eer surface, cause if they do Eccelstone will throw you under the bus before you ever have a chance to prove them wrong.

[Pup]

From SpeedTV...

There is also talk that Campos' car constructor Dallara, believed to be already talking with Stefan GP about a deal, may also have commenced negotiations with USF1, at the request of team sponsor Chad Hurley.

If Speed is willing to admit this much, then I'd say that the rumors have got to be pretty accurate. Anyone digging their heels in on this one are likely going to be pretty disappointed come Bahrain. But then miracles do happen...

If it's true that Stephan is willing to buy these cars just to keep them from Campos, I guess one could assume that the negotiations are really with him. After all, the fewer new teams to make the grid, the better his chances of getting a spot; and the better his chances on the track and in sponsor negotiations thereafter.

[WhiteBlue]

I believe SPEED is only copying this German link. They had the news earlier. And there seems to be a trend of talking up the chances of German based teams in Motorsport-total.com. If the news is correct Stefan GP can almost certainly buy Campos's license for peanuts. It makes sense for Bernie to get two very rich men to cooperate but I still have my doubts about Hurley spending so much money just to go belt and braces instead of doing it one way full throttle.

[F1LOCO]

Time is ticking and it's going to be interesting next few weeks...as much as I'd like to see USF1 do well, I'm beginning to wonder about the flow of info from w/in the team at this point...

As for Bernie, he for some reason despises America and Americans. He would love the opportunity to see USF1 fail, as someone else will be waiting in the wings. Heck, he's always been critical of the USF1 deal since it first announced last year...

[madtown77]

I guess I don't see the wisdom in buying the Dallara chassis if you are USF1 (Stefan, definately though). If they are anywhere near the end (and all evidence shows that they have the car designed, just not built), then why waste the money buying an alternative chassis for the first 3 races or so? At that point I think you just take the hit, unless of course the money it costs to buy that chassis is less than the sponsor money you will loose if you don't show up in Bahrain.

As usual, the F1 press is all over the place, reprinting one obscure story after another.

[xpensive]

Early on, there were speculations, including my own, that the plan with USF1 was only to sell their licence to the grid,
perhaps we will see Stefan buying the licence from Hurley?

I mean, there are two licences and two cars, but three teams, how difficult could it be for MrE to sort it out?

[Pup]

As usual, the F1 press is all over the place, reprinting one obscure story after another.

Actually, they're all printing about the same story, whether you want to believe it or not.

I guess I don't see the wisdom in buying the Dallara chassis if you are USF1 (Stefan, definately though). If they are anywhere near the end (and all evidence shows that they have the car designed, just not built), then why waste the money buying an alternative chassis for the first 3 races or so? At that point I think you just take the hit, unless of course the money it costs to buy that chassis is less than the sponsor money you will loose if you don't show up in Bahrain.

Hurley's dilemma involves more than just math. The question for him is whether he thinks USF1 can make the 4th race, not the first one. If they can't, then they lose their license and he's got nothing even to sell, bar a few used CNC machines. If I were him, I'd be attacking this from three angles - first, set some week by week goals that get the team to at least the fourth race; second, see if there's anyone out there willing to buy the team (unlikely); and third, figure out a plan PDQ in case they don't meet their goals. And the only two plan B's I can think of are to renegotiate with Bernie and the FIA, get new management, or get a ready-made car. Well, with Stephan in the picture, I think it's optimistic to think that Bernie and Todt would be willing to let them sit out a year, plus you'd have to consider what that would cost him. And it's pretty risky to hope that new management can come in at this point and salvage things. So that leaves getting a car. In that respect, he should feel pretty damned lucky that the whole Campos deal is going down as it is.

[Richard]

Hold it, loyal knights of Windsor, I said "sometimes", didn't I?

But what is this anyway, you fans are not already trying to point fingers at somebody else for this mess, are you now?

Perish the thought. Just pointing out that Mr E deliberately issues misinformation 99% of the time. Anyone quoting him has odds of 100:1 that the quote has any relevance to the argument being made.

[segedunum]

If the team started without securing funds, no. But if they proceeded with money in the mail and then Bernie's ramlbings cost them money, then yes.

New strategy: It's all Bernie's fault! That whole 'cheque's in the post' thing is laughable as well. If the money, and the car, isn't there by now then it won't be. Speculating about something where there is no evidence that it exists is fruitless.

It's getting a tad desperate now.

In either case, only someone as self serving as Bernie would cast doubt on an operation which he has aready approved to compete in his sport.

He didn't approve anything. Manufacturers pulled out of the sport and Max and the FIA desperately had to have some seemingly credible teams coming in to fill the void. The fact that slightly more credible entries like Prodrive were passed over for tin-pot outfits like USF1 and Campos doesn't inspire confidence.

Where else do you see a comishioner naysaying a team that has never even had the chance to prove itself?

They have had a chance to prove themselves. They don't have a car. Bottom line.

If anything, its in his interest to help them (not out of his own wallet, but by way of assisting them in showing what an investment opportunity it is).

Bernie is certainly not going to get people to put money into something where he then gets a phone call a few weeks later asking him "Do you know where Peter and Ken are?"

[F1LOCO]

Ouch....belly ache...

[xpensive]

I guess I don't see the wisdom in buying the Dallara chassis if you are USF1 (Stefan, definately though). If they are anywhere near the end (and all evidence shows that they have the car designed, just not built), then why waste the money buying an alternative chassis for the first 3 races or so? At that point I think you just take the hit, unless of course the money it costs to buy that chassis is less than the sponsor money you will loose if you don't show up in Bahrain.

Hurley's dilemma involves more than just math. The question for him is whether he thinks USF1 can make the 4th race, not the first one. If they can't, then they lose their license and he's got nothing even to sell, bar a few used CNC machines. If I were him, I'd be attacking this from three angles - first, set some week by week goals that get the team to at least the fourth race; second, see if there's anyone out there willing to buy the team (unlikely); and third, figure out a plan PDQ in case they don't meet their goals. And the only two plan B's I can think of are to renegotiate with Bernie and the FIA, get new management, or get a ready-made car. Well, with Stephan in the picture, I think it's optimistic to think that Bernie and Todt would be willing to let them sit out a year, plus you'd have to consider what that would cost him. And it's pretty risky to hope that new management can come in at this point and salvage things. So that leaves getting a car. In that respect, he should feel pretty damned lucky that the whole Campos deal is going down as it is.

The most sensible Hurley can do is to realize that he was taken by two losers and simplysell the USF1 licence to Stefan.
I think some damage-control is the very best he can hope for now.

[Mysticf1]

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/02/ ... iss-races/

-1 for USF1 and Campos

Maybe Stefan sending containers to Bahrain isn't so silly?

[Pup]

The most sensible Hurley can do is to realize that he was taken by two losers and simplysell the USF1 licence to Stefan. I think some damage-control is the very best he can hope for now.

That could well be. There are four parties involved here, all with lots of money to lose. If you're Dallara, you're talking to the other three, trying to salvage their project for the best price possible. If you're Stephan, you're trying to either buy a license from one of the two other teams, or trying to buy the chassis out from under Campos (which you might then resell to USF1, or not). If you're USF1 or Campos, you're trying to either sell your license to Stephan for as much as you can, or buy the chassis from Dallara for as little as you can.

Not the sort of deal that gets hashed out over lunch.

[segedunum]

From SpeedTV...

There is also talk that Campos' car constructor Dallara, believed to be already talking with Stefan GP about a deal, may also have commenced negotiations with USF1, at the request of team sponsor Chad Hurley.

Not a suprise. I would imagine that Chad Hurley would be feeling rather anxious right now, and his anxiety will be proportionate to how much money he's sunk into this tin-pot outfit. Damage limitation is the order of the day for Chad here. I wouldn't be suprised if he hasn't been able to get in contact with Peter and Ken for a few days..............

They aren't going to make any races this season, or ever, and xpensive and those amusing USF1 videos were right - this was all about saying "Oh well we tried" come Bahrain when all along the 'strategy' was to sell their 2010 entry. It's been a bit of a bummer now that Toyota pulled out and have now materialised into StefanGP so a 2010 entry is totally worthless, especially with Campos almost certainly not making it now. The whole crap pile wouldn't be enough to cover a small water biscuit.

[Pup]

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/02/ ... iss-races/

-1 for USF1 and Campos

Maybe Stefan sending containers to Bahrain isn't so silly?

Interesting move. So if you miss one race, it's a violation and you can be sanctioned by the FIA, perhaps even to the extent of getting your license revoked - but if you miss four, you automatically forfeit the license, is that it?

That would put the cards in Todt's hands, as the FIA gets to decide the appropriate sanction, and so you have to wonder if there's some person or persons he's trying to pressure here by reminding them of this.